Jamie D. Clark, BS¹, Stephen Alder, PhD², George L. White, PhD, MSPH¹, Royce Moser, MD, MPH¹, and Niki T. Gledhill, BS¹. (1) Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah, 375 Chipeta Way, Suite A, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, (801) 585-1729, jclark@dfpm.utah.edu, (2) Department of Family and Preventative Medicine, University of Utah, 375 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108

Purpose: Tabletops are excellent needs assessment exercises because they illustrate agencies’ strengths and weaknesses and function as a way to look for target development methods. Smallpox is specifically considered an excellent topic for preparation trainings because of the potential devastating impact it could have on the public’s health. Methods: The Utah Division of Emergency Services and Homeland Security (DES), in conjunction with the Utah Department of Health (UDOH), conducted eight smallpox tabletop exercises throughout the state of Utah in the summer of 2003 to promote bioterrorism response planning among local health departments, local government, state agencies, hospitals, law enforcement, fire, military, media and non-profit organizations. Results: These exercises revealed to participants the complex range of issues that will be raised during a bioterrorism event. Participants realized that it is crucial for them to understand what their expected roles and responsibilities will be prior to an event occurring. Conclusion: These tabletop exercises highlight the importance of utilizing a multidisciplinary approach to respond to a bioterrorism event. It is crucial for these agencies to be familiar and comfortable with each other and their plans prior to an emergency to ensure a synchronized response to any public health disaster. Health department staff and resources may be quickly overwhelmed in a smallpox outbreak and may require assistance from outside agencies. It is important for pertinent agencies, including the health department, to identify resources that could provide assistance in a public health emergency prior to one occurring.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the presentation, the participant should understand what a tabletop exercise is and how to conduct one. They should also realize that tabletop exercises provide an opportunity to resolve questions of coordination and responsibility that may arise while responding to any public health emergency.

Keywords: Bioterrorism,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.